This was not a pretty game for Liverpool tonight. Arsenal simply wanted it more. And while there will be many things we could blame. From refereeing decisions to key players missing. The fact that Arsenal wanted it more was the reason why the Gunners won. And that reality hurts more than anything.
On top of that, Liverpool also caused their own demise. The mishap between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker was simply a really unfortunate and costly error. It’s one that if you play the game again, neither Van Dijk nor Alisson makes probably in one million other replays of that situation. In most realities and alternate universes, Liverpool would have been just fine.
But in this one it was a horrible lapse of judgement that gifted Arsenal a goal. It’s important though not to blame too much on Van Dijk. He was otherwise superb in the game. This moment was just proof that he too is fallible.
Richard Keys on Virgil van Dijk
Speaking on beIN Sports, pundit Richard Keys criticised Jurgen Klopp’s decision to announce his departure from Liverpool. And then he criticised Van Dijk himself, claiming that the Liverpool captain had looked like he had already moved on from Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“I mean, Van Dijk looked like he had already moved on,” Keys said.
This is an astonishing statement from the pundit. Van Dijk made one error. But he has made it clear he is committed to the club, and that nothing has changed. People are too quick to jump on him. Barring that mistake the Liverpool captain put in a solid performance and actually made some key interceptions and blocks at the back. Without those contributions, it could have been a lot worse of a result for Liverpool on the night.
Onwards and upwards now. We are one hundred percent confident that Liverpool are going to bounce back. And that what Keys has suggested is absolute nonsense.
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